My kid has been taking Taekwondo lessons here for about a year now, and he absolutely loves coming…read morehere. I just recently started taking Hoshinsul lessons here, and I love it as well.
INSTRUCTORS:
The instructors here are top shelf. They are patient, friendly, knowledgeable and clearly invested in the material they teach. They are just as adept at teaching young kids, who may not have the longest attention spans, as they are at teaching adults, who may not be able to bend and stretch as well as they once did. They are able to get everyone to dig deep inside themselves and give their all. If you make the effort, they will too. They don't ever embarrass, haze or belittle anyone. Their attitudes are constantly positive and confidence-building.
CURRICULA:
The Taekwondo is easily approachable and within reach to the newest white belt all the way to the advanced belts. I really appreciate that this isn't just a black belt mill; you are expected to demonstrate proficiency before you can advance to the next level. Belt stripes and belts aren't just given, they're earned. But that said, the instructors will work with you, and the material is presented in a way that kids and adults can understand and effectively apply.
The Hoshinsul is just getting off the ground, and so far I'm really happy with the program. If you have a background in the military or law enforcement, some of the Hoshinsul curriculum may look familiar. Safety is clearly a top priority; new students are taught to crawl (and fall) before they can walk. Since the program is new, I can see that the instructors are still laying the foundation that we'll build off of in future classes.
Either way, whether in Taekwondo or Hoshinsul, you're going to get a solid workout in addition to learning a martial art. My wife has been doing this program for a while, too, and has lost weight, improved her cardio, and increased her strength.
In addition to the martial arts classes, they do a Parents Night Out one Saturday a month, which my kid loves, and my wife and I appreciate. There are also tournaments with other schools, and all skill levels are able to show what they know and have an opportunity to win medals. They also offer seminars and clinics on some Saturdays to help build some of the more challenging skills. And it's all really fun.
COMMUNITY:
The overall frequency of this place is overwhelmingly positive. The instructors are friendly, and the other students and parents are encouraging and welcoming. The school emphasizes respect, responsibility, integrity, and teamwork. My family has been coming here for a year now, and the increase in everyone's self confidence and overall feeling of wellness is outstanding. If you're looking to get into martial arts, this school is welcoming, friendly, not-at-all intimidating, and the place to go.
FACILITY:
You can see that this martial arts academy has a healthy following by the difficulty in finding a parking space on busy nights. That's the only somewhat negative thing I have to say about UMAA. And it gets a little crowded inside during the busy classes. But don't let that keep you away.